Eagles suffer Super Series shutout against Black Ferns

The USA were no match for New Zealand as they suffered a 33-0 loss to the World Champions at Chula Vista on Tuesday. That makes it two losses from two matches in the Women’s Rugby Super Series for the Eagles, with the Black Ferns a perfect two from two.

Carla Hohepa opened the scoring for the visitors in just the 6th minute as New Zealand calmly went through the phases. A second score would come through hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate soon after, and a third out wide from winger Natahlia Moors. Kendra Cocksedge converted all three with Alev Kelter missing a shot off the tee on the USA’s only scoring opportunity of the half.

An early try in the second half came from Pia Tapsell, her first points in test rugby, with Cocksedge again on target. Replacements streamed into the match and New Zealand would get one more converted score before the end through second row Eloise Blackwell.

While the American offense again failed to fire, they will at least take solace that the points differential has been cut virtually in half from their previous meeting, a 67-6 loss at Soldier Field in November. Creating more scoring opportunities will be a key talking point in the debrief.

Next up for the Black Ferns is a match against France on Saturday. The Eagles will have the weekend off to prepare for their next match against rivals Canada next Wednesday.

 

SCORING

USA 0
Pens – A. Kelter 0/1

NEW ZEALAND 33
Tries – C. Hohepa (6′), T. Ngata-Aerengamate (13′), N. Moors (29′), P. Tapsell (46′), E. Blackwell (66′)
Cons – K. Cocksedge 4/5 (7′, 14′, 47′, 67′)

 

TEAMS

USA
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Katy Augustyn, 3 Nick James, 4 Stacey Bridges, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Elizabeth Cairns, 7 Joyce Taufa, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Ashlee Byrge, 10 Katana Howard, 11 Kristen Thomas, 12 Alev Kelter, 13 Amy Talei-Bonté, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 15 Bui Baravilala

Replacements: 16 Catie Benson, 17 Charli Jacoby, 18 Joanna Kitlinski, 19 Nicole Strasko, 20 Kristine Sommer, 21 Olivia Ortiz, 22 Emily Henrich, 23 Eti Haungatau

NEW ZEALAND
1 Phillipa Love, 2 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, 3 Aleisha-Pearl Nelson, 4 Eloise Blackwell, 5 Charmaine Smith, 6 Charmaine McMenamin, 7 Lesley Elder (capt.), 8 Pia Tapsell, 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 10 Ruahei Demant, 11 Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12 Chelsea Alley, 13 Carla Hohepa, 14 Natahlia Moors, 15 Renee Wickliffe

Replacements: 16 Forne Burkin, 17 Toka Natua, 18 Leilani Perese, 19 Joanah Ngan-Woo, 20 Kennedy Simon, 21 Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 22 Kelly Brazier, 23 Theresa Fitzpatrick

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistants: Joy Neville (IRFU) & Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)